As the general elections draw nearer, there is a new development as 145 support groups of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP)’s presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar, have switched their loyalty to President Muhammadu Buhari of the All Progressives Congress (APC).

The embittered groups accused the PDP and Atiku Abubakar of not giving them the attention they, favouring only those close to him and lacking focus, Leadership reports.

Popular among the 145 groups are Atiku Reloaded, Atiku Support Group, Unique Women for Atiku, Dynamic Women for Atiku, United Group for Atiku, Grassroots Initiative for Atiku and Edo Ambassadors for Atiku.

The aggrieved groups were given a celebratory welcome at a ceremony in Abuja by members of the APC’s presidential council, among who were chairman, Central Working Committee (CWC) of the APC Women and Youth Presidential Campaign Team, Brigadier General Buba Marwa (rtd), former Inspector General of Police (IGP), and Suleiman Abba, former deputy governor of Plateau state.

The coordinator, Comrade Bello Osaretin Godspower said they had always wanted to leave the PDP, that they took the decision to do so on Tuesday, November 27, 2018. He said: “It will be recalled that on the 27th of November, 2018 at a location in the heart of Abuja, we the disgruntled members of Atiku campaign office took a milestone decision to dump Atiku Abubakar Presidential Project on the platform of PDP after a robust and convincing consultation with relevant stakeholders vis-a-viz other considerable factors.

“Our despondency was borne out of Atiku Abubakar’s disdainful treatment on support groups, which snowballed into neglect, nepotistic deployment, use and dump style coupled with lack of direction and reward management system made worse by the infusion and infiltration of people with questionable character into his campaign train…

” The groups said they are not going back on their decision and they would massively support Buhari in the next general elections. Godspower concluded:

“Today, the 10th of February, 2019, we as members of Aggrieved Atiku Support Groups Coalition warehousing over 145 formidable organizations united together and stronger in one voice, officially denounce Atiku Abubakar’s Presidential ambition and make a formal declaration to support President Muhammadu Buhari’s re-election bid come February 16, 2019.”

Meanwhile, Legit.ng previously reported that the secretary of the National Youth Campaign Committee of the All Progressives Congress Presidential Campaign Council (APCPCC) urged Kwara youths to support the re-election of Buhari. The secretary said this in a statement in Abuja on Thursday, January 31, that the re-election of Buhari is tied to the liberation of the people of Kwara from a political dynasty.